November 2010 | Issue 10 | University of Wolverhampton | www.wlv.ac.uk

WLVdialogue

Graduation success Students and honoraries celebrate

Back to school Top marks for teacher training

industry leader Topical insights from business expert

Welcome to the latest edition of WLV Dialogue.

September is always an exciting time at the University as our latest group of graduates collect their awards and head off into a range of careers and further study. This year was no different, and we met up with a group of international students who had travelled over 6,000 miles to be at a ceremony.

Improving the student experience is at the forefront of the University’s

mission, and with this in mind we are launching a new centre to carry

out innovative research into student retention and achievement. Find out

more about the Virtual Policy Centre on pages 6-7.

We hope you enjoy reading this edition of WLV Dialogue. We are

delighted to have been shortlisted for a CIPR PRide Award for the

second year running in the Best Magazine category. Winners will be

announced in December.

If you have any feedback for us, please get in touch at:

wlvdialogue@wlv.ac.uk

Our next magazine will be out at the end of January.

Best wishes

Vickie Warren

WLV Dialogue Editor

The University also awarded 16 honorary awards during graduation to

people who had made a significant contribution to their field of expertise.

The Chairman of Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club, Steve

Morgan, international Punjabi singer Gurdas Maan and artist, musician

and dancer Goldie told us what the awards mean to them.

One of our PhD students, Chris Rogers, has been carrying out some

particularly interesting research into a new way of pinpointing the time

of death. Read more about his work on page 8. Meanwhile, a leading

academic in the field of Industrial Relations is finding his expertise is very

much in demand at the moment. Professor Roger Seifert talks about

government cutbacks, the impact of redundancies and strike action on

pages 10-11.

Teaching remains a hugely popular career choice for our students, and

the School of Education was delighted to notch up top marks in a recent

Ofsted report. The secret of this success is examined on pages 4-5.

Welcome

PAGE

8

12 16 10

6

coNTeNTS 1

neWs a relationship that lasts – Introducing our new 2Alumni Association

Back to school – Teacher training chalks up top marks 4

educational experiences – Launch of our new Virtual 6Policy Centre

researchWhen time is of the essence … – Research helps to 8pinpoint the time of death

ProFileindustry leader – Professor Roger Seifert 10shares his expertise

Graduation Featurethe Music Maan – International icon Gurdas Maan celebrated 12

as good as Goldie – Multi-talented artist returns to his roots 14

Golden celebration – Wolves Chairman Steve Morgan 16receives honorary award

internationala day to remember – Students travel 6,000 miles to 18attend graduation

Businessthe new solution – Launch of business partnership 20

PeoPleraising the Bar – Q&A with alumnus Judge Jonathan Gosling 22

Graduate success story – Duncan Cameron 24

What’s on guide – University events 25

PAGE14

2 NeWS

leadership programme (LEAD). The ‘students’

(who were all staff) were tasked with carrying

out secondary and primary research to

ascertain an ‘appetite’ for alumni relations. I am

delighted that their recommendations are now

coming to fruition.”

Managing the Association is a new Alumni and

Development Office which opened in July

this year.

Alumni Services Manager, Amy Roberton, says:

“Our alumni are a vital part of the University

and we are fortunate to already enjoy a large

and pro-active community. The WLV Alumni

Association will serve to bring together our

graduates as a single group and build an even

stronger community for them to enjoy.”

the university experience is in many

ways unique and for the 7,000 students

that graduate from the university of

Wolverhampton each year, the relationship

they have with it is special. For some it is

the knowledge and skills they gain and the

personal development they undergo, for

others it is the lifelong friends they make

and the memories they cherish.

The University of Wolverhampton has long

recognised the importance of continuing the

relationship from student to graduate, and this

November will be launching its first ever alumni

association.

The WLV Alumni Association will be a

University-wide, global association, bringing

together all Wolverhampton graduates old and

new, from both the UK and overseas.

The launch comes after an 18-month research

project within the University, which looked at

how it can formally engage with graduates.

Jane Nelson, Pro Vice-Chancellor Student

Affairs, was lead sponsor of the project.

She says: “The University felt it really important

to get involvement and buy in from within the

University. So we embarked on formalising

a project with students of the University

A relationship that lasts

As part of their membership, alumni will receive

a variety of benefits including a monthly ezine,

‘WLV@lumni’, the alumni magazine, ‘WLVlife’,

and discounts on a range of attractions and

activities around the UK.

And in an age where social networking is the

norm, the Association is keen to communicate

with alumni via Facebook and other channels,

sharing the news and successes of other

graduates and encouraging them to engage

with each other to create their own

networking opportunities.

Similarly, a University owned online profile

space is also being developed for alumni to

keep their contact details up-to-date and share

information about themselves, such as their

careers and hobbies, so that other graduates

can identify members with similar interests.

business, their experiences and advice can

help current students ensure that they have

the necessary attributes for their chosen career

and a firmer understanding of the industry

before they enter it.

The Alumni and Development Office has

already received an overwhelming response

from graduates who are eager to volunteer

their time to the University, for example by

giving guest lectures, taking part in careers fairs

and attending University Open Days.

Many have also expressed an interest in

becoming Alumni Ambassadors; graduates

who will represent the University across the

world, and help by organising events for former

students and being a point of contact for the

Alumni and Development Office.

Amy says: “It’s wonderful to see so many of our

alumni eager to use their knowledge and skills

to help others. It’s this kind of opportunity that

demonstrates how important it is to maintain

relationships with your graduates and introduce

formal Associations so that their efforts are

consolidated and used to greatest effect.”

To bridge the distance between UK and

international graduates, overseas branches of

the WLV Alumni Association will be launched.

NeWS 3

The Association will have a strong focus

on supporting graduates, especially recent

ones, through the current turbulent jobs

market. Alumni are increasingly calling on their

universities for help securing their first graduate

job, and in addition to access to careers

advice, job searching facilities and help with CV

and interview preparation, members will benefit

from a wide range of professional networking,

careers and industry speaker events.

Amy adds: “We feel that it is important to give

something back to our alumni and while social

events and reunions are well received, it’s the

opportunities for furthering their career that are

their greatest priority.”

In line with the University’s aim to produce

graduates that are knowledgeable, enterprising

and digitally literate, alumni will also be

encouraged to share the knowledge and skills

they have developed, both whilst studying

and since entering employment, with other

graduates and current students coming

through the University.

With graduates going into a diverse range of

careers including teaching, pharmaceuticals,

legal services, graphic design, construction,

music production and the media, and with

some even going on to set up their own

A relationship that lasts

contact detailsalumni and development office

Tel: 01902 323056

Email: alumni@wlv.ac.uk

Website: www.wlv.ac.uk/alumni

A Hong Kong Alumni Association has already

been established and there are plans to launch

similar ones in India and Singapore/Malaysia

in 2011.

The launch of the WLV Alumni Association

marks the start of a positive new venture for

the University of Wolverhampton and it’s one

that many are sure to benefit from.

As Amy says: “This really is an exciting time

for the University as we now reach back out

to the tens of thousands of alumni who have

graduated from us over the years. There are

a lot of exciting activities planned for our first

year and we are looking forward to building a

strong community that past, present and future

graduates will be proud to be part of.”

4 NeWS

Back to schoolThe University was delighted to receive top marks for the quality of its teacher education provision in a recent Ofsted

report. Teaching is a challenging and rewarding career and is consistently one of the most popular choices for students

at the University, with the number of applications far exceeding the number of available places each year. We quizzed

Jeff Serf, Associate Dean, Initial Teacher Education, about why teacher training is so appealing and what makes

Wolverhampton graduates stand out.

the ofsted report highlighted the high quality of the academic and pastoral support at the school of

education. Give examples.

A: The two aspects are linked, in the sense that we take a great deal of c

are over our selection of

students, so we can help them get off to a flying start. Part of the selection procedure is an audit of

their knowledge and previous experiences as well as an interview, and we use all this information to put

together an individual programme for the trainees to carry out before they even arriv

e.

A feature of each course is on-going review and target setting, which requires students and tutors to

work together closely and this develops the rela

tionships that underpin our pastoral care. Every student

has a personal tutor throughout their course, and because they spend so much time on placements

gaining real experience, they also have a scho

ol or college mentor who they look to for support. In

terms of outcomes, our students really are outstanding and that is illustrated by their high s

tandard of

academic work, as well as their performance in the classroom.

describe the partnerships the school of education has with schools and colleges.

A: All of the courses are partnerships, which means school and colleg

e staff sit on the various

steering groups and have input there on, for example, the curriculum the students follow. They take

our students on placements and support them, and we use their staff to provide bespoke sessions in

their areas of expertise. We take groups of students into a school or

college that is particularly well

recognised for a high standard of teaching in,

say, citizenship, so they can see what best practice is.

When a school or college enters into a partners

hip with us, there is a commitment to provide a mentor

who has to undergo training and we have a structured training programme for mentors that can result in

the accreditation of Masters credits.

“interest in teaching as a career has increased and the kind of people applying to become a teacher

has changed in recent years”. discuss.

A: We are lucky in that we get significantly more applicants than we have places. Interest does reflect

the economic climate – if there are redundancies out there then people will be changing careers, either

because they want to or are being forced to. Teaching is an attractive

career for many and it is relatively

well paid – but you do have to work hard.

The vast majority of applicants have thought very carefully about the choices facing th

em and have

made a conscious decision that they want to teach. It is not the profession

for someone who does

not really want to do it. For primary teaching, most students tend to fit the typical undergraduate

profile, while secondary is a mix of traditional and mature students, perhaps because it is more

attractive to career changers. Many of our PCE students are already teach

ing in colleges and so bring, in

some cases, years of experience – as do those on

our employment-based routes for school teachers.

One cohort of PCE students consists of active service personnel bas

ed at RAF Cosford.

Q1

Q2

Q3

NeWS 5

describe the formula used to make Wolverhampton graduates stand out.

A: What makes them stand out is their enthusiasm and they do get that partly from their tutors. They

are willing to experiment and to try things out and to risk failing. There is nothing wrong with trying

things out, making a mistake and learning from it – just don’t make the same mistake twice! I think the

students are quite critical of their own practice and the practice they observe, and we want them to

be critical. We are not trying to produce models or clones of ourselves – we want individuals who have

the skills and abilities to support children and people in their learning. Of course, they are also very hard

working, and that underpins everything.

They also enjoy being in the schools and colleges. I don’t think it is a reflection on us, but most of

them would rather be in the classroom or teaching room than attending a lecture or seminar – and

that’s the way it should be. They enjoy being in school and college and that comes through in their

teaching.

argue the case for school of education courses, including what you think makes them different.

A: In each of the phases we teach, we have developed areas of particular expertise. For example, in

primary we encourage students to exploit the potential for teaching outside the classroom and in

secondary we have expertise in preparing students to teach in schools in c

hallenging circumstances.

Meanwhile at PCE level we are excellent at using technology to support learning, including the use of

e-portfolios. We do things that other institutions don’t or we do the same but better!

outline the challenges facing the teaching profession and newly Qualified teachers (nQts)

in particular.

A: In the short term, one of the biggest challenges is probably the economic climate and government

attempts to cut the financial deficit. It makes planning for the future quite difficult. Also issues

surrounding curriculum reform affects our planning, as well as all sectors from schools to Further

Education colleges – for example, the uncertainty around vocational courses such as the 14-19 Diplomas.

Longer term, we really don’t know what the future holds apart from that there will be changes and in

many cases we can’t guess what those changes will be. But there must be a core of knowledge, a set

of moral principles that we need to pass on to future generations and there must be a debate about

that knowledge and those principles and what future generations will need.

someone is considering teaching as a career. describe the advice you would offer to them.

A: Go and try it. To get on to one of our courses you need some experience of working with the age

range you are looking to teach, and without that you won’t get an interview. We see experience as a

good selection criterion, as they all know what they are getting into. If you think you are interested

in teaching, get into a school or college and do some voluntary work. Do some group work and try and

teach them something. You will see if you like it and if you can do it. But do be careful – it’s addictive.

Q7

Q6

Q5

Q4

6 NeWS

the face of higher education is changing.

With pressures on funding and a cap

on the number of students entering

universities, there is a need to ensure

that those who are lucky enough to snap

up a coveted place are supported and

encouraged.

The launch of a new Centre focused on student

retention and achievement at the University of

Wolverhampton is therefore extremely timely.

The Virtual Policy Centre will draw together

expertise at the University to further enhance

the student experience and make the transition

into higher education as smooth and as

effective as possible.

The key thinking behind the programme is

that new University students are thought of

as being ‘first years’, but in most cases this

is really their 14th year of education. The

University’s Education Partnerships department

has an established reputation for building links

with local authorities, schools, colleges and

training providers to lead the transformation

of learning in the region, and therefore has

extensive knowledge of the first 13 years of

a child’s education career. In addition, the

University’s Institute for Learning Enhancement

(ILE) has carried out in-depth research into

student retention and satisfaction at higher

education level. It is hoped that developing

closer collaboration between these two pools

of knowledge will significantly benefit the

student experience and create a national centre

of expertise.

Dr Henriette Harnisch is the Interim Deputy

Director of Education Partnerships, and is one

of the driving forces behind the new Centre,

along with Professor Glynis Cousin, Director

of the Institute for Learning Enhancement.

Henriette says the aim is to carry out research

across the whole education sector from primary

right through to higher and disseminate the

findings internally and externally.

“Too often, transition points become exit

points,” Henriette explains. “When pupils move

from primary to secondary school, they cannot

physically exit but it becomes an exit in terms

of attainment – some will hit a wall in their

learning as the environment is too alien. This is

the same from GCSE to post-16 and then to

university. It is not about numbers – it is about

successes, however we define that, whether it

is the quality of student experience or academic

attainment.”

There are four key themes for the work of the

Virtual Policy Centre in relation to the student

experience – transition, progression, retention

and achievement.

“Improving the student experience is vitally

important. We have a lot of expertise at

Wolverhampton and we are trying to bring that

together and galvanise it, so when people talk

about student transitions they want to know

what the University is doing and saying on the

subject,” Henriette adds.

The Virtual Policy Centre will deliver a number

of activities, including a series of themed

seminars, including one about Transition to

HE, and a conference to enable academics

and teachers to share expertise. There are

also plans to influence education policy, so the

development of briefing and working papers will

be a key strategy.

In terms of research, Henriette gives an

example of a Website Fundamentals module

which was run for sixth form students

remotely by the University as part of the

Higher Education Modules in Schools (HEMiS)

scheme. This allows sixth form students to

collect credits towards degrees in a range

of courses. Academics looked at how sixth

form students learn and find the assessment

methods within higher education. They

will compare this with the experiences of

undergraduates studying the same module

to develop a broader understanding of the

approaches of the different age groups.

The new Centre will draw on the lessons learnt

from the University’s Centre for Excellence

in Teaching and Learning (CETL), which

focused on research into the first-year student

experience and came to the end of its funding

cycle this summer.

Led by Professor Glynis Cousin in the last

two years, the CETL produced a number

of concrete outcomes and fresh

understandings relating to the improvement

of student retention.

Educational experiences

NeWS 7

Professor Cousin says: “We are keen to

build on the success of the CETL. We are

producing briefing papers on every strand

of work the CETL undertook so that we

can disseminate the lessons learnt, the

practical steps we have taken and the

knowledge our work has generated.”

As the whole higher education sector

heads into a new and challenging era,

the findings from the research of the

new Centre will help to influence opinion

and drive forward new developments in

learning. But right at the crux of the aims

of the Virtual Policy Centre is the student

experience, and how universities can

continue to transform and enhance the

lives of thousands of students from

a broad range of backgrounds. It is with

this aim at its heart that the centre aims

to contribute to the new face of

higher education.

8 reSeArch

as anyone who has watched a murder

mystery programme will know, there is one

question the investigating officer always

asks. Whether it is dci Barnaby on the

hunt for the latest serial killer in Midsomer

or Miss Marple trying to uncover the

evil deeds of one of her st Mary Mead

neighbours, they are always keen to know

what time the victim met their grisly end.

and it is not hard to see why.

By pinpointing the time of death, investigating

officers are able to identify potential suspects

and also exonerate people who could not have

been at the scene of the crime. It is also a key

part of the jigsaw in tracing the dead person’s

final movements.

Common ways of estimating the time of death

include the change in body temperature, the

degree of rigor mortis and even the extent to

which the last known meal has been digested.

But a University of Wolverhampton forensic

scientist has been investigating a different way

of pinpointing the time of death.

crucial cartilage

Christopher Rogers is researching how

cartilage could be used to identify the time

that has elapsed since a person has died. As

cartilage does not have a blood supply and

therefore breaks down more slowly than other

tissues, it could prove a useful tool to police

and pathologists in suspicious cases.

To conduct his research, PhD student

Christopher, from the School of Applied

Sciences, has used pig trotters. By burying the

trotters in soil he was able to replicate the effect

of human burials in shallow graves.

When time is of the essence…

reSeArch 9

The trotters were left for varying amounts of

time and then tested. Christopher found that

crystals formed on the cartilage after three

weeks and started to disappear after six,

enabling him to identify the time of death.

Significantly, this result was consistent over the

three years of the study and in hundreds

of examples.

The tests included looking at the trotters

macroscopically to see if there were any

visible changes, such as colour. They also

analysed the trotters using a scanning electron

microscope, which identified the formation

of crystals.

the importance of environment

One aspect that can affect the accuracy

of determining the time of death is the

environment at the scene. For example, if left

outside a body will be subject to the elements,

such as potentially dramatic changes in

temperature and the impact of wildlife. Again

this is where cartilage could prove a useful

indicator, as it is protected.

Christopher, who also studied a BSc (Hons)

in Forensic Science at the University and is

due to complete his PhD this year, says: “The

findings could be useful in determining how

long a person has been dead for, which is

an important question in a suspicious death

investigation. It could also help to identify a

suspect or exonerate someone.

“There has been little research into cartilage

degradation post-mortem, but it is useful as

it is contained within a trotter so is protected

from the effects of the environment. This would

be the case for a human body too, as cartilage

is protected by muscle and skin.”

As well as being useful in suspicious death

cases, the process could also be used for

wildlife forensics, for example investigating

allegations of poaching. If an animal carcass is

discovered outside of legitimate circumstances,

the analysis could be used to identify the time

of death.

Forensic science as a career

The career of a forensic scientist is interesting,

challenging and intriguing and the courses at

the University of Wolverhampton provide an

excellent grounding for this profession.

As well as state-of-the-art science labs,

students are given a taste of what could face

them in their daily working life in a scenes of

crime suite at City Campus. The fully furnished

flat was designed with help from West

Midlands Police, and features CCTV cameras,

dummies and replica weapons.

Lecturers use the suite to simulate murders,

assaults and break-ins and other scenarios. It

includes a central teaching lab where students

can examine fingerprints and analyse samples

found at the scene.

And although the detectives on the popular

television programmes may seem to rely on

hunches and hearsay from local residents,

they would no doubt find the facilities and

research at the University of Wolverhampton

useful in reaching a conclusion in their most

baffling cases.

Determining how long a person has been dead for is an important question in a suspicious death investigation

Roger Seifert’s expertise is very much in

demand. Specialising in industrial relations, he

is often called upon by the media to provide

his thoughts on planned strike action or

negotiations between unions and employers.

The interest in his research area is a sign of the

times, with news stories breaking almost every

day about the latest cuts in funding, pay and

redundancies.

Private companies and public sector

organisations have both been affected and

faced drastic cut backs, and the impact is

wide ranging.

Professor Seifert explains: “Union membership

is growing, particularly in the public sector.

People are concerned about redundancy but

also working practices. They are asked to work

harder, face extra burdens and more stress,

and there is more absence. As a result, there is

more pressure on those that remain.

“In addition, there are fewer promotions and

career plans are thwarted so that makes

people feel disconcerted. Many workplaces

have implemented recruitment freezes so

the people who are at work are having to

do extra – more for less seems to be the

current slogan.”

There are also concerns about the extent

to which the burden of recession is put

onto working people, and is not shared by

everybody in the country.

But despite widespread worries, Professor

Seifert predicts that we won’t see a general

strike.

“Where workers are well organised during a

recession, they will tend to resist cuts, or relative

cuts, in pay and conditions. The well organised

ones include transport, communications and

utilities workers and we would expect some

flash points. In the public sector, we would

expect strikes over redundancies, pension

issues and pay.

“There won’t be a general strike, but there is

a strong possibility of one day strikes co-

ordinated by the Trades Union Congress

(TUC) for the public sector, transport and

communications sectors. These are likely to

happen around May next year,” Roger says.

taking it to the table

Professor Roger Seifert joined the University of

Wolverhampton in 2008. His wide experience

includes acting as an adviser and consultant

to large private and public sector companies,

trade unions, and government departments.

He has acted as an academic adviser to the

conciliation service ACAS and remains a

visiting professor in Zimbabwe, Malawi

and China.

His teaching, research and publications

focus on the employment relationship, state

regulation and control of the labour markets,

pay determination, the role of trade unions,

employers’ strategies, and the public sector.

Professor Seifert’s expertise is such that in

the last year he has provided comments on

disputes at British Airways, BAA, oil refineries

and railways as well as issues such as growing

union membership, union-Labour party links

and reform of public sector redundancy

payment schemes and pensions. He has

been interviewed on numerous media outlets

including ITV’s GMTV, the BBC News Channel,

BBC Midlands Today, various local radio

stations and BBC Radio 4’s The World at One

and Westminster Hour.

As part of his work, Roger speaks to the

people involved in industrial disputes and

negotiations and has links to ACAS. But other

than the ACAS negotiators, people from

outside the organisations involved are not

allowed into dispute talks. Contrary to popular

belief, discussions are not often heated as they

are normally held with the negotiating parties in

different rooms. If the talks are moving forward,

the ACAS negotiators will bring the two sides

together.

The public is most often made aware of

employment issues through media coverage,

and people may wonder why the organisations

and workers can’t just resolve their problems

without resorting to disruptive strike action.

But Roger says the picture is often more

complicated than it appears on the television.

Industry leaderRoger Seifert is Professor of Human Resource Management at the University of Wolverhampton Business School. Roger is a leading expert on industrial relations and has been interviewed about recent high profile disputes, including the British Airways strikes, on BBC News, Sky News, the BBC Politics Show and BBC Radio 4 and 5.

His research covers a number of interesting and topical areas, and he is currently looking at the impact of government cuts on the police, fire and ambulance services and also union responses to public sector reform.

10 profile

“Industrial relations is a messy subject and the

negotiations are often messy too. Outsiders

get frustrated and question why the two sides

can’t solve their differences, but the reason is

that the issues are more complex than people

think. When union leaders are interviewed about

talks, they are not trying to get a message

across to the managers – they are talking to

their members through the media. Similarly a

Chief Executive will be talking to his or her own

board. And there is a lot at stake – if they get it

wrong they will be sacked or someone else will

be elected to the union role.

“The substance might be straightforward

but the processes and practicalities are

convoluted.”

timely advice

What advice would Professor Seifert offer to

the government at the moment, when painful

and unpopular cuts across the board seem

inevitable?

“The thing is to avoid conflict. They have to

convince managers that the service at the other

end of reductions will be equally good and in

turn they have to convince the workforce. The

key thing is strategic planning so people can

see there will be an end result that is ok.”

The current economic situation is such that

cuts, redundancies and pay freezes seem to

affect every industry and individual in some

form. It is this aspect of the subject area that

makes it so interesting to Professor Seifert.

“Industrial relations is about work and as most

people will at some point in their life go to work,

it is a fundamental part of human activity,”

he says.

“It is also about the exercise of power, in terms

of both market and social power, so it combines

political and economic features of human life.”

Professor Seifert is writing a history of British

industrial relations in the 1960s and 1970s

and his current research interests include a

book on union opposition to public sector

reform; the reaction of ‘front line’ staff in

the emergency services (police, fire and

ambulance) to the government’s cuts; and

papers on reform of Further Education, police

pay and the experiences of Black and Minority

Ethnic workers in local government.

He is also involved in two consultancy projects:

one on the future of the culture sector in the

UK, and the other on the reaction of staff

in the NHS and local government to the

government’s proposals on cuts and reforms.

Roger’s work, through his teaching,

research and media profile, has helped to

further develop interest in the University

of Wolverhampton Business School. It is

an exciting time for the School, which has

moved to the City Campus and is preparing

to welcome a new Dean, Dr Anthea Gregory.

And with the economic situation remaining

uncertain for many people and industries,

Professor Roger Seifert’s research will continue

to be interesting, relevant and newsworthy.

profile 11

12 feATure

his music has an appeal across the generations, from children to grandparents.

But, as John is careful to point out, it was

Gurdas’ connection to Wolverhampton - where

he has played numerous sell-out concerts and

has a loyal fan base - that led to his nomination

for an honorary degree.

John says: “Each year we consider awarding

an honorary degree to an eminent figure in the

fields of sport, performing arts or leisure who

has a strong connection to Wolverhampton

and the Black Country. It was a real delight

for us that a musician of such eminence and

international renown feels such an affinity with

the city of Wolverhampton. Every time he gives

concerts here it is to capacity audiences. It is

also wonderful that he is at the Albert Hall one

day and Wolverhampton the next!”

This was also recognised by Gurdas himself,

who was clearly moved by the warm welcome

from his fans in the city.

During his speech at the graduation ceremony,

he said: “This is an emotional moment for me.

I accept this honour on behalf of the millions of

fans and listeners of my music across the world.

I would like to thank everybody here today and

especially the people of Wolverhampton, who

have shown me so much love and respect over

the years.”

it is difficult to over-estimate the

popularity of Punjabi singer Gurdas Maan.

the global star has a dedicated following

worldwide, attracting sell-out audiences

for his concerts and playing a major role

in promoting asian culture internationally.

It was no surprise, therefore, that the award

of an honorary degree by the University of

Wolverhampton attracted attention all over

the world. Dozens of international journalists

gathered at the Royal Albert Hall in London for

a press conference where Gurdas talked about

receiving the honorary award and announced

details of a forthcoming UK tour. The following

day, fans jostled for position outside the

University and Wolverhampton Grand Theatre

to catch a glimpse of the icon, who took the

time to sign autographs and have his picture

taken with them. The interest in his award is

testament to Gurdas’ appeal and the way his

music captures the imagination of listeners.

The Honorary Degree of Doctor of Music was

presented by the University’s School of Sport,

Performing Arts and Leisure. Dean of School,

John Pymm read the citation for Gurdas

Maan’s award at the ceremony, celebrating

the many achievements of the star’s

25-year career.

The

music maanGurdas Maan is the most recognisable and

prolific Punjabi singer in the world today.

His song “Dil Da Mamla Hai” brought him

to national attention in India in 1980 and he

is credited with taking Punjabi music from

a regional level to international renown. He

has produced over 30 albums and written

more than 200 songs. He has toured the

globe, performing in the UK, USA, Canada,

the Middle East, New Zealand, Hong Kong,

France and Australia, to name but a few.

He has also found time to make a name

for himself as a Bollywood actor, starring in

blockbuster films and receiving numerous

awards including the Jury’s Award which was

presented by the President of India in 2005.

So what is it about Gurdas Maan’s music

that appeals to people? His lively stage

performances are packed with energy, and his

music, whilst infused with eastern and western

flavours, remains quintessentially Punjabi. But

perhaps it is the fact that his songs also have

the ability to connect with people’s own lives,

portraying real issues.

As John Pymm says: “His music has an

appeal across the generations, from children

to grandparents. They are captivated by

the mesmeric quality of Gurdas Maan’s

performances: he is truly an artist for our time.”

feATure 13

14 feATure

The prestigious honour recognised Goldie’s

work nationally and internationally, both as a

performer and artist.

Conferring the award, Dr Bryony Conway,

Dean of the School of Art & Design, said: “This

multi-talented figure has been creative across a

broad spectrum of media. Goldie’s strength is

that he has shaped and made his own success.

He keeps learning new skills and reinventing

himself.”

It was a proud moment for Goldie and his family

who attended the ceremony at Wolverhampton

Grand Theatre. In his speech, Goldie, real name

Clifford Price, said: “It really means something

coming to Wolverhampton. It is an incredible

if Madonna is the queen of reinvention,

then Goldie is arguably the king. From

drum and bass pioneer to classical

composer, breakdancer to Strictly Come

Dancing contestant and reality tV star to

hollywood film actor, his path to fame

is characterised by interesting twists

and turns.

But his creative roots lie in Wolverhampton,

where he first acquired a reputation as a graffiti

artist. Goldie’s significant contribution to the

creative arts was celebrated by the University

recently when the School of Art & Design

awarded him an Honorary Degree of Doctor

of Design.

As good as

honour to be recognised in these fields and to

be recognised by the academic community, it’s

quite overwhelming.”

Born in Walsall, Goldie spent his childhood in

foster care and children’s homes. His eclectic

career began at the age of 18, when he moved

into a block of flats in the Heath Town area

of Wolverhampton. Goldie threw himself into

graffiti art, decorating stairwells, garage doors

and walls on the estate with murals. Although

not strictly legal, Goldie’s art struck a chord

with the residents of Heath Town who identified

with his social messages about poverty and

alienation.

Goldie

feATure 15

This period of his life was documented in a

photographic exhibition at the School of Art

& Design to coincide with Goldie’s honorary

award and the MA Graduate Show.

Goldie’s former manager and agent Martin

Jones carried a camera everywhere he went

with Goldie in the 80s, creating a vivid and

unique archive of the early years of Hip Hop

culture. The photographs show Goldie in his

native Black Country, outside Wolverhampton

Art Gallery where he had his first exhibition and

in Walsall where he helped to found the first

ever legal graffiti art gallery. They also show

him in New York in 1986, meeting Hip Hop’s

founders in the Bronx as his career began to

take flight.

The rest, as they say, is history. In 1991, he

moved to London and launched the Sunday

Sessions at the Blue Note. This saw the birth

and growth of the now infamous Drum and

Bass label Metalheadz that created his album

Timeless.

He went on to become an actor, making

numerous TV and film appearances, including

Guy Ritchie’s classic Snatch and the James

Bond film The World Is Not Enough.

Photograph: Martin Jones

He became a firm favourite with Eastenders fans

as Angel and recently appeared in the highly

successful BBC Maestro. He was then asked

to score a piece of music for the Proms, entitled

Sine Tempore. A two-part BBC documentary,

Classic Goldie, followed portraying his talents.

Most recently, he took to the dancefloor to take

part in the BBC’s hugely popular Strictly Come

Dancing.

Whatever Goldie turns his hand to, there

is a consistent thread of determination,

imagination and vision running through his art.

In his graduation speech, Goldie described

his inspiration and the driving force behind his

creativity.

“Over the years, I have worked on many different

themes in many different mediums, often with

themes recurring, weaving in and out – switching

the medium, but applying the same technique,

and each time getting a little closer in closing

my circle, trying to approach completion and

closure – and I think that in itself is the point –

conceptualising, then carrying out the effort to

realise that vision – this cycle that at once actively

engages us and propels us through our lives

as artists.”

And he had some words of inspiration for the

talented graduates collecting art and design

degrees at the same ceremony.

“I learned early on that if you cannot say what

you want about something, well, just paint it.

For me the struggle, the effort, has always been

to reconcile what’s inside of me, and what I

see around me, to the medium at hand, and

always adapting and evolving, and never still.

It’s nice to know that whenever I feel imperfect

or incomplete, art is there.”

16 feATure

former owner Sir Jack Hayward a token £10

for the club, together with a £30 million capital

injection. Sir Jack describes the momentous

deal which saw Steve become Wolves

Chairman as the day he had a ‘heart transplant’

from Liverpool to Wolverhampton.

Steve’s link to Wolverhampton became even

deeper when he was presented with an

Honorary Degree of Doctor of Letters by the

University. The honour from the School of

Sport, Performing Arts and Leisure recognised

Steve’s significant services to the home building

industry and his entrepreneurial flair and passion

for sport and leisure.

At the ceremony at Wolverhampton Grand

Theatre, Steve spoke of his pride at being

recognised by his adopted city.

“I am really proud and quite choked I am so

honoured. It is wonderful to be presented

with this amazing honour and I am absolutely

delighted.

“I very much feel like an adopted son, and I felt

that way from the beginning, when I started

coming to the club even before I did the deal with

Sir Jack Hayward. It just felt right. I met the right

town, the right football club and now the right

University.”

When steve Morgan stepped up on stage

to collect his honorary degree from the

university, the colours of his graduation

robe could not have been any more

appropriate. the vibrant red alongside the

striking gold seemed to represent the two

cities – and football clubs - that have a

special place in his heart.

Hailing from Merseyside Steve grew up a

fanatical Liverpool supporter, but now has the

gold of Wolverhampton Wanderers running

through his veins after purchasing the Midlands

club back in 2007. In a unique deal, Steve paid

Golden celebration

feATure 17

Steve is also Chairman of the Bridgemere

Group of Companies, which has significant land

and commercial development interests in the

UK and Europe. Bridgemere’s other activities

included Wolverhampton Wanderers Football

Club, Trinity Aviation and Carden Park Hotel,

one of the UK’s leading golf resorts. In 2001

Steve founded The Morgan Foundation, a

charity which is one of the largest providers of

funding for children’s and family charities across

North Wales, Merseyside and West Cheshire.

The Morgan Foundation is also the main funder

for “Wolves Aid”, which is the largest charity of

its type in football.

By his own admission, the three years since

purchasing Wolverhampton Wanderers have

been the most exciting of Steve’s life. In

2009, Wolves were crowned Champions of

the Championship and are now established

in the Premiership. Plans for a £40 million

redevelopment of the iconic Molineux stadium

are under way, and Steve is passionate about

the inclusion of a museum to showcase the

club’s memorabilia and achievements.

“I think the new stadium development will be

fabulous for the club. We are doing it a step at a

time so we don’t over-reach.

“One of the reasons why we’re doing the North

Bank first is to move the fans behind both

goals closer to the pitch and to incorporate a

museum, as the club is so steeped in history

and there’s so much for fans to see.

“I’m sure the fans will absolutely love it. Once

we start the first phase, they will want the other

phases and if everybody comes and supports the

team and gets behind the boys, it will happen.”

side-by-side

The football club and University literally sit side-

by-side in the city, with lecture theatres and

offices a stone’s throw from the stadium. In his

graduation speech, Steve recognised the work of

the University, led by Vice-Chancellor Professor

Caroline Gipps, to transform the city skyline

through a programme of investment in new

buildings.

“When you look at what the University has

achieved and the buildings that have been

developed, it is a great tribute to Caroline and

the team to how they have transformed the

University,” he said.

As a successful entrepreneur and passionate

advocate for the sport and leisure industries,

Steve Morgan had some words of advice for

the hundreds of students collecting their degree

scrolls on the same day.

“My message would be to have a go, because

unless you have a go you are never going to

succeed. Never be afraid to make mistakes.

Whatever road you decide to take on the

crossroads just have a go and good luck.”

entrepreneurial flair

Steve Morgan has demonstrated

entrepreneurial flair from the early days of his

career. Born in Liverpool, Steve, 57, is the

founder of Redrow plc, which he started at the

age of 21 with the aid of a £5,000 loan from his

father. Under his leadership Redrow became

one of the UK’s most successful homebuilders

and a FTSE 250 Company. He led the flotation

of the Company in 1994 and eventually stepped

down as Chairman in November 2000, although

his company, Bridgemere, remained one of the

largest shareholders. Steve returned to the helm

at Redrow in March 2009.

18 iNTerNATioNAl

the family to get a degree so it was emotional

for them.”

The students were very positive about the

course they had studied, which aims to

produce capable, creative future leaders for

the Singaporean sports management sector.

Graduates of this 12-month top-up degree

gain an in-depth knowledge of the social,

cultural, political and economic environments in

which the Singaporean sports industry exists,

whilst also having the opportunity to develop

further sport specialism through their choice

of research project. One of the projects was

to organise a netball tournament, providing

valuable experience of organising a large event.

Cheeseng Loh says: “It was a mixed match

of netball, and it was overwhelming – we had

too many teams! We sorted everything and

organised it on our own so we chipped in

expertise in our area.”

As all of the students on the course are in

employment, study is undertaken during

evenings and weekends in intensive blocks: it’s

quite a challenge for students to do this whilst

being at work during the day. The course is

delivered by full-time staff from the University,

who visit Singapore for blocks of time during

the year. The course is specially tailored to the

Singaporean market, and John Pymm, Dean

of the School of Sport, Performing Arts and

Leisure, says it has been carefully designed to

meet the needs of the booming sports industry

in the country.

He says: “The development of sport is a top

priority for the Singapore Government and

this is reflected in the very high calibre of

applicants the course receives, many of whom

have represented their country in national

teams. We are also grateful for the enthusiastic

support of the CEO of APSSB, Mr Ronnie Lee.”

Getting better all the time

Mr Lee accompanied the students to the

ceremony, and it was the third time he had

attended a graduation in Wolverhampton.

He believes it gets better every year. Having

worked with the students for three years, it is a

rewarding moment for him.

He says: “It is always exciting when we see

students walking up on to the stage to collect

their degrees – it is a joy. We are proud of our

students but graduation is only the beginning.

The important thing is that they do not look

back and think, ‘I have done it’ - they should

look forward and see what they can do with the

degree.”

Ronnie says interest in the course is building

and this reflects the growth in the sports

industry in Singapore. APSSB was the first

School to bring the Sports Management

programme to the country, and including this

September’s cohort, 36 people have now

completed the degree. Previously much of

the work in the sports industry was voluntary,

but this has shifted in the last five years with

investment from the government in Singapore,

including S$1.8 billion for a new sports hub

featuring stadia and swimming pools. And with

the growth in sports, Ronnie says they will need

the right people with the right qualifications to

drive forward the industry.

Jo Gittens is the University of Wolverhampton’s

Director, International. She is enthusiastic about

trans-national education and the benefits for

the students.

She says: “The University works closely with

a small number of carefully-selected partners

such as APSSB, where we can be confident

that they will be able to support the learning

experience to the same level as if they were

being taught in Wolverhampton.

“We are delighted that the BA (Hons) Sport

Management has been so successful in

Singapore and is able to bridge both cultural

diversity and geographic distance. We will

continue to build on our very considerable

successes in Singapore, South-East Asia and

beyond.”

As the students head back to Singapore to

start exciting and challenging careers in the

sports industry, they can look back on the day

they collected their degrees in Wolverhampton

with pride.

As Waikit Chan says: “I thought it was

awesome and a wonderful experience.”

For every student, donning a cap and

gown to graduate is a special moment.

For one group, this year’s celebrations

at the Grand theatre were particularly

memorable as it was the first time they

had been to Wolverhampton - and they

travelled 6,700 miles to be there.

Nineteen students graduated from the BA

(Hons) in Sport Management programme with

the University’s School of Sport, Performing

Arts and Leisure in Singapore, and seven

students travelled to the UK for the graduation.

The course was delivered in Singapore with

lecturers visiting three times over a year to

provide block teaching. The programme is run

in collaboration with the Asia Pacific School

of Sports and Business (APSSB) as part of

the University’s commitment to trans-national

education (TNE).

In September the group travelled to the UK

to take part in the ceremony, stepping up to

collect their scrolls from the Vice-Chancellor,

Professor Caroline Gipps. The experience of a

graduation ceremony in Britain made quite an

impression on the students. Hakim Sakariah,

who has a job working in a Polytechnic in

Singapore, said: “It was very different to what

we have in Singapore. It was very traditional

and the theatre made it very grand.” Cheeseng

Loh added: “It was great. We chose to come

here to graduate because it is a once in a

lifetime experience to do a degree programme

and so I wanted to come and find out more

about the UK.”

a proud moment

Graduations are always a special occasion

for family members too, as they witness their

children and partners reap the rewards of their

hard work. Shimin Suar’s parents joined her at

the ceremony, and mum Susan said it was a

“proud moment” for them.

Like some of the students from the UK, Sofia

Ahmad was the first person in her family to

go to university. Sofia, who already has a job

working in a leisure centre, explained: “It was

awesome – I enjoyed everything about it. My

family were in awe because I am the first one in

iNTerNATioNAl 19

A day to remember

20 BuSiNeSS

Wolverhampton City Council and Business Link

West Midlands, local companies have access

to a one-stop solution to their business queries

and needs.

Based at Wolverhampton Science Park, the

Centre provides a friendly and professional

service which is designed to understand the

needs of a business before managing the

relevant solution. This can draw on the full

range of services available across the partners,

such as planning regulation support from the

City Council or academic expertise at

the University.

Director of Business Solutions, Marc Fleetham,

explains: “We are providing a package of

solutions rather than a ‘one-off’ piece of

advice. The aim is to build a relationship with

the businesses, so they are guided, nurtured

and supported. When new opportunities come

about we can contact them and build a real

network of companies.

“It is about building a business community,

but with the support of five major partners –

the unique thing, we believe, is having those

partners working together within a single unit.”

The support can include advice about services

to develop an existing business, such as

professional consultancy services, market/

product research and networking organisations.

The new solutionlike many cities, Wolverhampton faces

a number of economic challenges over

the next few years. one that is likely to

be felt all over the country is the pressure

on local businesses of all sizes to remain

competitive. the launch of a new business

partnership in the region is therefore

welcome and timely.

The Wolverhampton Business Solutions

Centre is believed to be the first of its kind

in the country. A partnership of five leading

organisations, the Centre provides integrated

business solutions to companies of all sizes

and sectors. By bringing together the University

of Wolverhampton, Black Country Chamber of

Commerce, City of Wolverhampton College,

BuSiNeSS 21

The Centre can also provide suggestions

about how to inject fresh ideas into a business,

for example by working with students and

graduates, enlisting an apprentice or re-

training existing employees. People can

also find out more about the regulations and

policies companies need to be aware of and

implement.

Help is available to businesses of any size

and at any point in their life cycle, including

individuals looking to launch a new company.

Marc continues: “We want to support

businesses at the incubation stage, the

fledgling businesses that have been trading for

12 months or fewer and the more experienced

our focus is to help businesses improve competitiveness, create wealth and jobs, and feed that back into Wolverhampton.

ones as well – they can still benefit from

our packages. We want to give businesses

access to the skills and resources they need,

regardless of the stage they are at currently.

“There are key phases in a business life cycle

where they may hit a barrier and it is critical

they have resources available to enable them to

build and develop.”

Businesses will benefit from a project manager

who finds the information or locates the

services they require from the five partners.

The service is impartial and confidential and

provides access to experts who will work

alongside the business to develop the most

relevant solution. This also enables resources,

skills and knowledge to be shared between

the partners for the benefit of the business

community.

The Centre was officially launched at a

special event in September attended by

representatives of the five partners, local

businesses and the Mayor of Wolverhampton,

Councillor Malcolm Gwinnett. Professor Ian

Oakes, Pro Vice-Chancellor Research and

Enterprise at the University, has had a key role

in developing the partnership. At the launch,

he said: “Our focus is to help businesses

improve competitiveness, create wealth and

jobs, and feed that back into Wolverhampton.

I am delighted that the partnership has come

together.”

Councillor Paddy Bradley, Cabinet Member for

Regeneration & Enterprise at Wolverhampton

City Council, also emphasised the importance

of the Centre for the local business community.

“The Business Solutions Centre is an extremely

important innovation. We have been working on

it for 12 months or more and the facilities are

very good. We are grateful to the University for

taking it on board and running with it,” she said.

Local businesses that could benefit from the

services of the Business Solutions Centre

were invited to Innovate4Success, a keynote

event following the launch. Hamish Taylor,

an inspirational leader on innovation and

change management, shared his expertise

and provided insightful advice about how

to innovate for success to around 100

businesses.

For all those involved, this is the perfect time

to launch a Centre focused on supporting

businesses through the challenges ahead.

As Marc Fleetham says: “We have been

through a recession and are hopefully coming

out the other side of that. Businesses need

to have confidence in what they are doing.

The Business Solutions Centre offers an

opportunity for them to engage with a fully

inclusive partnership arrangement to grow

their business.”

To contact the Wolverhampton Business

Solutions Centre, call: 01902 321272 or email:

enquiries@wolverhamptonbsc.com

Pictured left to right: Steve Boyes from Wolverhampton City Council, Ian Grewcock from Business Link West Midlands, Professor Ian Oakes from the University of Wolverhampton, Margaret Corneby from the Black Country Chamber of Commerce and Bhanu Dhir from the City of Wolverhampton College.

22 people22 people

his honour Judge Jonathan Gosling was among one of the first intakes of law students at the university of Wolverhampton, and

graduated in 1978. he was called to the Bar in 1980 and was appointed as a deputy district Judge (Magistrates’ courts), then

known as acting Provincial stipendiary Magistrate, in 1997. he was appointed as an assistant recorder in February 2000 and as

a recorder in July 2000.

Judge Gosling was appointed as a circuit Judge in July 2009 and was assigned to the Midland circuit, presiding over courts in

Wolverhampton and derby.

raising the Bar

people 23

What led you to choose a career

in law?

It was unavoidable. My grandfather was a

solicitor in Wolverhampton and so was my

father. My mother was a magistrate and my

uncle was a judge and had a career at the

Bar. Both my brothers are practising solicitors.

I never thought of any other career and have

not regretted it.

What are your memories of studying

at Wolverhampton?

They are all positive. The law school was

small, there were about 150 students over

the three years, but the staff were a wonderful

mixture of old school and enthusiastic recently

qualified lecturers. I am still in close contact

with many of my fellow students and one of

my lecturers, Peter Smith, who was only a few

years older than a graduate himself. I have

excellent memories.

how do you think your degree

prepared you for your career?

The teaching standard was extremely high and

the course itself was held in high regard by

the local profession, even though the course

was only a few years old then. It is still highly

regarded now. Many of the students joined

local firms and are still there as senior partners.

I remember taking part in a Mooting

competition, which tests your advocacy

skills. Our lecturer, Peter Smith, led a student

called Bill Eaton and me to the semi-finals of

the Observer Mooting Competition in 1978,

against Manchester University. That was a very

good grounding.

What are your memories of your

early career as a magistrates’ clerk

in Wolverhampton and a barrister in

Birmingham?

I was let loose on my own as a court clerk

at a very early age, and had quite a lot of

responsibility. It was quite a buzz. As for the

Bar, it is without question the most fun you

can have while earning a living. You have a real

effect on people’s lives and you are completely

independent. You enjoy a close friendship

What led you to choose a career 1

What are your memories of studying 2

h3

What are your memories of your 4

and camaraderie that is an integral part of

the profession. I practiced in crime and liquor

licensing so there was plenty of interesting

work around.

What is your greatest professional

achievement?

It was as a prosecutor. I had a case where

a taxi driver had raped a heroin-addicted

prostitute. After he had dumped her penniless,

she picked up another punter to earn more

money to score a fix before reporting what

had happened to the police. Before the case,

people said you cannot rape a prostitute but I

think the jury saw her for the tragic victim that

she was and the taxi driver was convicted. I

had lots of rewarding results but that was up

there with the best of them. As an advocate

you want to win. As a prosecutor, your role

is to present the case, but when you have a

victim like that you want to achieve something

for them.

What do you enjoy about your

current role, or find most rewarding?

Being fair to people. Every trial will have a

winner and a loser – either the victim or the

defendant – but everyone, whichever side

they are on, knows the risk of that before they

start. They know they may not succeed or

be believed. People will accept defeat, even

if it is a long prison sentence, as long as they

know it has been a fair and impartial hearing.

The judge is in control of that, and that is the

most important part of the job and the most

rewarding.

What characteristics make a good

barrister?

You have got to be fearless. You also have

to be incredibly hard working, because you

cannot cut corners. Preparation is everything.

You must also have complete integrity. If you

say something, everybody has to be able

to trust your word without questioning it or

wondering if it is reliable. For example, only you

know the content of conversations between

you and your client. It sometimes happens

that a defendant is criticised for mentioning

something in their evidence that they have not

mentioned earlier. If the barrister gets to his

feet and says the defendant did tell him, but

he forgot to mention it, you have to be able to

trust that. There is a strong tradition between

advocates of integrity that is absolutely vital to

the way we work.

What would you like to study if you

were at university today?

Law, or possibly history as a close second.

The law still fascinates me.

What advice would you offer to

today’s law graduates?

Don’t be put off by the challenge. The market

is competitive and not everyone is going to

end up where they want, and think, they

deserve to be. I would also say think outside

the box. We have an usher who is 21 and has

a first in Criminology and Psychology, and

wants to be a forensic psychologist – and

she will be. She spotted the possibility for

movement within the Ministry of Justice and

knows exactly where she is going. There is an

example of someone who has thought outside

the box.

Who do you admire?

My hero is my father and 17 years after his

death that has not changed.

For many years the resident judge in

Wolverhampton was Frank Chapman. He

was a giant and as part of my training before I

started sitting as a Judge, I was an Assistant

Recorder. Before I was let loose on my own I

spent the week with him. Whenever I have a

problem and there is no-one to ask, I still pose

the question, “what would Frank have done?”

Who do you admire?10

What characteristics make a good 7

What would you like to study if you 8

What advice would you offer to 9

What do you enjoy about your 6

What is your greatest professional 5

at the age of 17, duncan cameron was

working in his local Mcdonald’s. But even

at this early stage, he already had his

sights set on a career in the hospitality

industry. now eight years on and with

a Ba (hons) in hospitality Management

under his belt, he has a senior role

working with some of the top brands in

the world.

As Senior Hospitality Consultant for brand

quality auditing company, Hospitality Now,

Duncan works with industry leaders such

as Costa Coffee, Premier Inn and Marriott

hotels to ensure that quality standards

are consistently delivered to every guest

every time.

Duncan always knew that he was going to

study Hospitality Management at degree

level but decided to get as much practical

experience as possible by spending two years

working before starting his course.

“With most of my peers already two years into

their degree course I decided to get some

experience in the industry I was going to study

so that I could graduate with a head start over

my classmates. Having worked for an outside

caterer, Holiday Inn and even McDonald’s, I was

keen to progress within the industry but not as

‘just another manager’,” he explains.

When it came to choosing where to study, the

University of Wolverhampton was always going

to be Duncan’s first choice.

“It was well known that Wolverhampton’s

Hospitality Management degree programme

was highly regarded within the industry and

fortunately for me Wolverhampton was also my

home town!

“The lecturers were time served professionals

that had come from the industry. They delivered

the course in such a way that it was ‘real’ -

the techniques and lessons learnt could be

practically applied to the industry, so much so

that I still use them today in my everyday work.”

After teaming his studies with more work

experience, Duncan secured his first General

Manager position - two months before he even

graduated.

“I graduated with as much experience as I

could possibly have. I had been a fine dining

restaurant manager, Deputy General Manager

of one of the leading country house hotels

in the UK, spent six months working in the

kitchens of a 4 rosette restaurant and had also

worked as a fine wine advisor.”

Name: duncan cameron

Course: Ba (hons) hospitality Management

Year of Graduation: 2003

24 SucceSS STory

Duncan Cameron

Graduate success story

At age 25, Duncan’s career really began to

gain pace when he applied for the position

of Hotel Consultant with a company based in

Boston, USA. Duncan became the company’s

youngest consultant working autonomously

throughout the UK and Europe, analysing and

evaluating key strengths and weaknesses in

the quality consistencies of businesses.

Duncan worked in this role for three years,

consulting at over 500 hotels and 150

restaurants before deciding that he needed

to fill a gap in his CV – experience running

holiday resorts. In 2007 Duncan accepted the

position of General Manager of Windermere

Marina Village in the Lake District. With his

career plan still set firmly in his mind Duncan

gave himself three years before moving back

into consulting.

Exactly three years and three months later,

Duncan moved into the role that he enjoys

today – and credits the University’s role in his

success.

“I arrive at this stage of my career at a level I

thought I could never achieve and when I ask

myself what made a difference to my career,

the answer without a doubt is studying at

the University of Wolverhampton. I can offer

a unique combination of experience and

qualifications that employers crave.

“I thoroughly enjoyed and valued every minute

studying at the University of Wolverhampton

and I owe the lecturers a massive debt of

gratitude for delivering a course that prepared

me with the tools and insight I needed to build

a successful career.”

Early Researcher Symposium

Date: 23-24 november 2010

Time: 12pm on 23 november 2010 to 5pm on 24 november 2010 (28 hour residential event)

Location: Priorslee hall, telford campus

Contact: abi redmond, learning lab

Website: www.learninglab.org.uk

Call: 01902 322362

WhAT’S oN GuiDe 25

Duncan Cameron

Clothes Show Live 2010 - featuring work by Fashion & textile students from the school of art & design

Date: 3-5 december 2010

Show Opening Times: Friday – 9.30am–6pm / saturday Wednesday: 9am–6.30pm

Venue: nec Birmingham

Contact: kayla owen: k.owen@wlv.ac.uk

Website: www.clothesshowlive.com

Annual Holocaust Memorial Day lecture – ruth Barnett tells her story

Date: Wednesday 19 January 2011

Time: 5pm–7pm

Location: Mc001 Millennium city Building, Wolverhampton city campus

Contact: Jacqueline Jones

Call: 01902 322145

Email: holocaust-lecture2011@wlv.ac.uk

news in briefA recession-busting scheme at the University which offers graduates employment with innovative companies is currently recruiting.

The Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) programme gives graduates the opportunity to work for companies for between 10 weeks and 36 months and currently has a number of vacancies in the West Midlands.

Graduates become a project manager from day one whilst earning a competitive salary. Graduates are encouraged to register at www.wmktp.org.uk

The University of Wolverhampton has fought off tough competition to clinch a top award for its commitment to Fairtrade.

The University has been named runner-up in the Outstanding Achievement category of the Fairtrade Fortnight 2010 Awards.

During Fairtrade Fortnight in March, the University organised a series of events for staff and students to help spread the Fairtrade message.

University experts have secured a £51,000 grant to undertake research into bioenergy. The project will look into the financial viability of using sources of bioenergy in the West Midlands.

The University of Wolverhampton Business School was awarded £51,000 over three years by the John Oldacre Foundation. The aim of the research is to help enterprising people in rural areas look at sources of energy, such as wind power, biomass and the growth of crops to generate energy.

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